Previous Conductor & Musical Director

Peter is one of the UK’s most experienced choral trainers and conductors, having worked with a wide variety of singers and choral groups for over thirty five years. He is a freelance music educator, conductor and choir trainer and retired from a career in education in 2015. His last job was Deputy Head of Berkshire Maestros, an independent music service for the county of Berkshire, UK, where he specialised in leading singing projects in schools, conducting the Berkshire Youth Choirs and Early Years Music. He gained his B.A. in Music from Dartington College of Arts, and his teaching qualifications from the University of London. His long career in secondary education included being Head of Performing Arts at Chipping Norton School before focusing on choral education.

He is the inspiration behind the VOICEWORKS  series of handbooks for singing, published by Oxford University Press, UK, which has helped to transform singing for children and adults and choir leaders in many settings. He is the author or co-author of six of its titles and continues as the series editor. In 2005 he launched SONGSTREAM, a collection of arrangements for mixed voice young choirs with fellow English composer Bob Chilcott. He was also a regular workshop leader for Sing Up, the UK’s national singing campaign, and is much in demand as an adjudicator (particularly for the Chipping Norton Music Festival) and vocal clinician, both in the UK and overseas, with a great understanding of the techniques and skills required of young singers.

Peter has delivered workshops and keynote addresses to many conferences and gatherings around the world. In 2010 he lectured at the Texas Music Educators’ Association convention; in 2011 he toured Australia, delivering a keynote speech at Sounds Great in Melbourne; and in 2012 led workshops in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2015 he toured Canada, introducing the Voiceworks series at music conferences.

Since retiring Peter has started coaching adult singers and is in regular demand by choirs to lead workshops, helping them to develop their choral sound. He sings in the North Cotswold Chamber Choir and conducts the occasional concert.

Peter has conducted the Choral Society for twenty years, and is impressed with their attitude to trying adventurous programmes, and the enthusiasm for singing and hard work. The choir is testament to his belief that everyone can sing, and that given sufficient encouragement and strong leadership, ordinary people can truly achieve extraordinary things.

      – January 2017